Death toll 5, more 53 fall sick in Gaibandha

More 53 people have fallen sick, raising the number to 354.

The number of patients being treated at Gaibandha Sadar Hospital rose to 148 with admission of more 23 people, hospital sources said.

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Those who died yesterday are Golenur Bewya, 63 and Rasheda Begum, 49, of Uttar Dhanghara village and Ismail Hossain, 50 of Ballamjhar village. Two of the dead could not be identified, hospital sources said.

They said there is no dearth of drugs including IV saline but there is accommodation problem, said Resident Medical Officer Aminul Islam.

Patients were seen huddling also on floors of the hospital, already crowded with disrrhoea patients coming from different upazilas.

Fear has gripped the people of eight adjoining villages in Ballanjhar union, from where at least 1500 people went to attend a Chehlum at Dhangharah village in the Sadar Upazila Friday night. Many others who came from far-flung areas have also been affected with food poisoning, police and locals said yesterday.

Children and women are more vulnerable, they said.

Some sources said beef mixed with rice flour and rice were served during the Qulkhwani. The curry was kept on polytheine sheets on the ground, which might have caused adulteration, they said.

Gaibandha Civil Surgeon Habibur Rahman told the Daily Star that symptom 'strong diarrhoea' was seen among most of the patients.

"We have requested authorities in Dhaka to send a medical team for investigation", he said.

A well-equipped medical camp has been set up at Utter Dhanghara village and doctors are working round the clock to treat the affected people, the Civil Surgeon said. A case has been lodged with Gaibandha Sadar thana in this connection.